Kentucky In One Word: Home

To distill Kentucky’s essence into one word is to try to distill my own. It is a land of bourbon and bluegrass music and horses. I am redheaded and a mother and a writer.

The latter describe the wholeness of my being no better than the former describe the state I love.

My ancestors have lived and died on this land for over two hundred years. Generations of Jennings and Stewarts and Lovelaces who made homes and livings and families in the same state I now raise my own sons. I think about them often. How did they describe Kentucky to family members far away in Virginia and North Carolina?

I think about how my own children will describe Kentucky as they go out into the world. Will they describe their birthplace with fondness? Will it be place they defend or a place they disown?

Kentucky has never been a mere place to me – a descriptor of a small part of my own history. No matter where my story took me, Kentucky was never just the beginning. Kentucky was the foundation – the framework – of all that had been and ever would be in my history.  Kentucky was my mother, my birthplace, my friend.

When I returned after years “abroad,” my dear friend looked me in the eye and welcomed me back to the promise land.

Kentucky is in my blood. Knitted into my very DNA is a love of this land – this state. I can no more imagine myself without it then I can imagine my body without blood. It is my past. It is my present. It is my future.

It is my home.

Home.

~ Sarah Stewart Holland 

Kentucky in One Word

A single word can be a powerful thing.

This week, some of the HerKentucky team members have written about their commitment to the One Little Word project in the New Year. Lydia's mantra for 2013 is "commitment." Sarah's word is "simplify." Both are great words that have the power to transform a year.

As I read Lydia and Sarah's respective mission statements for 2013, I thought about the One Little Word that I plan to use personally and professionally in 2013, which is "Do." I have so many ideas, plans and dreams that have seemed just over the horizon lately; it seems time to bring them to fruition. I also started thinking about the power of One Little Word to characterize our unique Commonwealth.

In recent weeks, it seems that the use of One Little Word has polarized Kentucky. As y'all have probably seen by now, the guys behind the Kentucky for Kentucky project are once again spreading the message of a Kick-Ass Kentucky.  This time, they're suggesting a re-branded state.

Image via Kentucky for Kentucky

While advertising experts and social media users have overwhelmingly embraced the Kick-Ass Message, the Kentucky Department of Tourism was less than amused. Now, I personally find the idea of re-branding Kentucky as "Kick-Ass" kind of hilarious and edgy and irreverent, even if that opinion places me in the Department of Tourism's "constituency of no one."  The word "Kick-Ass" makes people take notice -- they high-five, giggle, or squirm, but they don't readily forget it. It doesn't have much gravitas, and I would imagine that there are a lot of people who don't want to see a mild expletive on billboards and license plates. I sure do like the idea of an upgrade to a hipper, more modern view of Kentucky, though. 

We first started HerKentucky was to provide an outlet for Kentucky women's voices. We wanted to share our unique experiences of life in the Bluegrass State. Along the way,  we found that there were few absolutes. Our respective backgrounds are rural or urban, equine or agrarian. We identify with different colleges, cities and sports teams. We sit on different sides of the partisan aisle.  Some of us fall into the "Kick-Ass" camp, while others identify with an "Unbridled Spirit." Kentucky life is a little different for each of us. In a way, we each have "One Little Word" that sums up our Kentucky experience.

And so, as we begin 2013, I'd love to hear from our writers, readers and friends. What One Little Word describes Kentucky for you?

2013 : One Word

“One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In stopping to think through the meaning of what I have learned, there is much that I believe intensely, much I am unsure of. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

This new year, I've decided to work on living with intent. I'm participating in the One Little Word class presented by blogger and life-documenter extraordinaire, Ali Edwards. This is the first time I've decided to let a word guide and shape my life for a year.

I've chosen the word "commitment" as my guiding force for 2013. This year promises to be one of big changes for me, for my family and for my future. In order to succeed in life, in happiness, in my career, in my new business I need to commit to the goals in each of those areas. Some of those goals are tangible, defineable. I want to run another half marathon, for example. Others are more on the intangible side. I want to become successful in my business while still honoring the commitment I have to my 9-to-5 job through the end of that engagement.

My family, independent of my move toward One Little Word, started thinking about this concept over email at the beginning of January. Aunts and cousins and other various relations have chosen words like 

• Do
• Relax
• Healthy
• Moderation
• Listen
• Active
• Serenity
• Gratitude
• Discipline
• Spontaneity
• Focus
• Now
• Open

 Do you choose a word to guide yourself through a year? 

New Year, New You?

I received a free class coupon for Pure Barre a couple of months ago.  If you haven't heard of Pure Barre, let me enlighten you a bit.  Pure Barre is a bar method class utilizing the ballet bar to perform small isometric movements.  I have heard from several people that this workout has changed their body appearance for the better, giving them lean toned muscles versus bulky muscles you may get with weight training.  

I have been hoarding my free class coupon since October.  I am considering going in the next couple of weeks, but I hate to appear as one of those over-zealous new year's resolutions gym rats.  You all know the type- the ones you've never seen before and they suddenly appear after New Year's looking like a hot mess.  

Lucky for you, if you live in Kentucky you can give Pure Barre a try!  Pure Barre opened locations in both Lexington and Louisville.  

Pure Barre Louisville -- Westport Village
1321 Herr Lane #180
Louisville, KY
(502) 749-2222

 Pure Barre Louisville -- Summit
4284 Summit Plaza Drive
Louisville, KY
(502) 425-8300

Lexington Pure Barre
867 East High Street #150
Lexington, KY(859) 335-2391

Have you all heard of Pure Barre or know anyone who's tried it?  

Two New Kentucky Favorites

Over the holidays, I ran across two delicious new Kentucky products. It's always so fun to find new treats from favorite Kentucky-based companies.

The Old Kentucky Bourbon Chocolate Cherries from Old Kentucky Chocolates are so addictively delicious. The cherries are soaked in 100 proof Jim Beam and enclosed in a semisweet chocolate shell. They're rich and sweet with just the slightest bourbon kick.

The Mexicafe blend from Coffee Times Coffee House was another delightful surprise. A rich blend with warm cinnamon notes, it's a fantastic evening or dessert coffee.

Have y'all run across any new favorites lately?

HerKentucky 2013

I've never been one for New Year's Resolutions. 

They seem so arbitrary and artificial and destined to fail. Or maybe I'm just never too committed to them. So, when the HerKentucky team decided to post 2013 Resolutions, I knew better. This year, I may complete the entire Craft Bourbon Trail, but I probably won't.

Resolutions may not be my thing, but goals sure are. One of my biggest goals for 2013 is to make HerKentucky bigger and better than ever. I want this site to celebrate the lives and stories of Kentucky women in new and exciting ways. I want HerKentucky to explore more recipes, more crafts, more entertaining ideas and more local products. I want to tell the stories of more Kentucky women. I want this site to make our readers smile and hopefully teach y'all a little something from time to time. I'm excited that HerKentucky has partnered with The Southern Blog Society, and I look forward to exploring new ways to get the HerKentucky story out there.

As always, if you have a story to tell or an idea to share, HerKentucky would love to hear from you. Just shoot me an email at heather@herkentucky.com.

Cheers!

HCW

New Ways of Thinking

The New Year means new resolutions, great ambitions, and setting yourself up for about two weeks of success. I don't say this to be cynical, I say it because it's pretty much the truth. What can we do to make our changes stick around? If you have the answer, feel free to share in the comments!

A big focus I want to have this year is to flip my way of thinking about things. I want to stay things with positive intentions instead of with fear or reflecting on past mistakes.

image from Wander Postcard Project

So for example:

• Instead of: "My workout sucked today." I could think: "I am so glad I got a workout in today."
• Instead of: "I wish I were as lucky as that new author." I could think: "It's great news that the publishing industry is opening up more to new authors."
• Instead of: "Man I wish I did this job earlier." I could think: "I work great under pressure."

Perhaps these are overly simple examples, but they are all part of my new way of thinking. Here's to 2013!